December 2024

Onteora’s Music Program is Better than Ever!

Onteora’s thriving music program offers students exceptional opportunities to develop lifelong musical skills, and this year—as a result of the first phase of the Optimizing Onteora reconfiguration—students at Bennett and Woodstock Elementary are now able to participate in the music program starting as early as Grade 3.

Our talented musicians who participate in the program, which begins with Band, Chorus, and Orchestra at the elementary level, enter Middle and High School with a solid foundation of skills. This strong foundation allows them to perform solos and play in multiple ensembles, including Jazz Band, Concert Choir, and Wind Ensemble, as well as in local and regional competitions and events.

If you missed this month’s Winter Concert series, which featured performances from Middle School, High School, and Bennett Elementary Grade 5 musicians, you can watch them online at www.youtube.com/user/OnteoraCSD.

Our Grade 3 and 4 Beginning Instrumental and Choral students from Woodstock and Bennett will perform during the school day in January.

We are so proud of our students’ dedication and the support from our families, teachers, and community that make these opportunities possible.

Our Community Continues Its Vision and Planning for Optimizing Onteora through a Central Campus

Thank you to all of the community members who came out on December 3 for the most recent community visioning and planning session for our future central campus where our independent partner Sharon Lipovsky of Point Road Studios guided us through two hours of dialogue, which is reflected in this visualization. 

We heard from the architecture firm about what work is already underway, what the “Nuts and Bolts” priorities are (regardless if the campus centralizes), and what additional updates are desired for a central campus that is student first, staff forward, fiscally responsible, and created with community input. 

Participants were able to view the architect’s conceptual plans, which were created from the input provided in last year’s visioning sessions. To guide revisions to these initial designs, participants were asked to identify what was most important to them, what was missing, and any remaining questions.

The collective work of participants has been captured on a map of the Main Campus, which you can view here.

During the next community forum, on January 15, participants will review more refined designs developed from the input and priorities identified during the December 3 meeting, and provide further input. A final gathering will be held on February 25 to share updates and explore the funding pathway, with a chance for community Q & A. 

We hope you will join us at the remaining sessions. Community voice is crucial in guiding the District in finalizing the design work needed to propose a Capital Project. Come learn more so you can be a part of Optimizing Onteora!

Honoring Distinguished Volunteer Service

Bravo to Christina Signore, PTA member and Onteora Booster Club treasurer, who was honored by the Ulster County School Boards Association with a Distinguished Friends of Education Award. The Onteora Board of Education nominated Mrs. Signore for her extraordinary collaborative and inspirational leadership.

During her time with the Phoenicia Elementary School PTA, Mrs. Signore dedicated herself to providing students with fun, engaging, student-centered, and community-spirited experiences that extended beyond the excellent instructional program offered by our teachers and staff. Over the years, she organized countless square dances, talent shows, Valentine’s Day parties, and more—including the unforgettable “Phoenicia Farewell” event last June.

Board of Education Trustee Sarah Hemingway-Lynch, who is also a PTA and Onteora Booster Club member, paid tribute to Mrs. Signore in a heartfelt speech at the December Board meeting. She described Mrs. Signore as “a beautiful bright light” who “made every kid feel special.”

We echo these sentiments and heartily congratulate Mrs. Signore on this well-deserved honor. Read the full story here.

NYS Funding Changes are on the Horizon

As part of the 2024 budget process, State lawmakers and Governor Kathy Hochul agreed to examine the NYS Foundation Aid formula to explore possible changes to how education funding is calculated. The State-ordered study was conducted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government (RIG) and included input from education stakeholders across New York State, including our Onteora administrators and Board trustees.

The recently released 300-page RIG report, which is still under review, includes significant recommendations. A nine-page summary highlights key changes for those interested. While we are still analyzing the recommendations’ potential impact, we were pleased to see an emphasis on predictability—phasing in changes and using rolling multi-year averages instead of single-year data, which can cause large funding fluctuations and hinder long-term planning.

Given the potential for significant reductions in federal assistance, the District and Board have shared concerns with the governor, urging the State to take an extremely thoughtful approach before implementing any changes. We hope the State carefully considers the long-term ramifications of its decisions.

The District and Board will continue to monitor this situation closely and discuss developments at upcoming Board meetings. You can view the RIG’s recommendations here.

So Many Ways to Connect with Us!

There are many ways to connect with us and hear what has been happening in Onteora Central School District. 

• Board of Education Meetings: Watch live or recorded meetings on our YouTube channel.
• Email: Send your questions to us at OnteoraBOE@onteora.k12.ny.us.
• Monthly Updates: Every month, we share Board Briefs with faculty, staff, families, and those community members who have signed up. If you know community members who want to stay informed, please forward this email to them. They can sign up for Board Briefs at www.onteora.k12.ny.us/mailinglist.

You can also follow the District on social media!

• Facebook at @OnteoraCSD
• Instagram at @onteoracsd